This GPU cost $15,000 and there’s only ONE like it – 3dfx Voodoo 5 6000
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Description
Check out the $14.99 Minnow set and the $19.99 Moray set at: ifixit.com 3dfx was the king of the graphics card world in the 90s, and in a flash they were gone. The Voodoo 5 6000 was the last GPU 3dfx produced, and released – Could it have changed the face of PC gaming? Discuss on the forum: linustechtips.com The deal fell through and this card is still for sale!
Contact
Contact Ross at voodoo56000prototype[at]gmail.com Purchases made through some store links may provide some compensation to Linus Media Group. ► GET MERCH: lttstore.com ► LTX 2023 TICKETS AVAILABLE NOW: lmg.gg ► GET EXCLUSIVE CONTENT ON FLOATPLANE: lmg.gg ► SPONSORS, AFFILIATES, AND PARTNERS: lmg.gg ► OUR WAN PODCAST GEAR: lmg.gg FOLLOW US --------------------------------------------------- Twitter: twitter.com Facebook: @LinusTech Instagram: @linustech TikTok: @linustech Twitch: twitch.tv MUSIC CREDIT --------------------------------------------------- Intro: Laszlo - Supernova Video Link: youtube.com iTunes Download Link: itunes.apple.com Artist Link: soundcloud.com Outro: Approaching Nirvana - Sugar High Video Link: youtube.com Listen on Spotify: spoti.fi Artist Link: youtube.com Intro animation by MBarek Abdelwassaa @mbarek_abdel Monitor And Keyboard by vadimmihalkevich / CC BY 4.0 geni.us Mechanical RGB Keyboard by BigBrotherECE / CC BY 4.0 geni.us Mouse Gamer free Model By Oscar Creativo / CC BY 4.0 geni.us CHAPTERS --------------------------------------------------- 0:00 Intro 1:17 What makes this so special? 2:13 Firing it up and Half-Life 1 4:40 Tribes 2 5:58 3DMark 2001 7:22 The prototype isn't the only way to play 8:04 It was doomed to failure 9:03 Why was 3dfx even successful? 11:52 3dfx got complacent 13:29 Forced to compete without a competitive product 14:11 The doors close and Nvidia takes over 14:52 Conclusion - Competition is good
This video dives into a highly sought after artifact from gaming history, a late stage prototype of the 3DFX Voodoo 5 6000. The host explains how this quad-GPU card would have been 3DFX's flagship and potentially a game changer, but also why it ultimately faced a doomed fate. The setup begins with the card being transported to the hosts in Canada after a deal fell through, highlighting its rarity and the awe it inspires among collectors. The footage then shifts to an actual boot and test run, where the Voodoo 5 6000 prototype is evaluated on a modern rig, including its power needs, cooling modifications, and the unexpected challenges of getting it to operate. We witness game demos and benchmarks from the late 90s era, such as Half-Life, Tribes 2, and 3DMark 2001, revealing both the nostalgia and technical limits of pre-shader 3D acceleration. Throughout, the discussion ties the device to broader industry history, contrasting 3DFX's former dominance with the rapid shader-enabled competition from NVIDIA and ATI, and reflecting on how governance, partnerships, and market forces led to 3DFX’s decline. The video closes with a candid assessment of what competition meant for the industry and a nod to contemporary enthusiasts who replicate or rebuild vintage GPUs, underscoring the lasting allure of archival tech stories and their lessons for modern hardware makers.
Topics · technology history · hardware · gaming hardware · collectibles · computing
Questions answered
- What makes the 3DFX Voodoo 5 6000 prototype unique in GPU history?
- The Voodoo 5 6000 prototype is a late stage, quad GPU card that represents 3DFX's ambitious flagship concept, designed to push performance beyond the era’s single-GPU cards and experimental for its time.
- Why did 3DFX ultimately fail despite such innovations?
- Industry dynamics, shifting focus to board partners, a slow transition to Direct3D OpenGL standards, and competitive pressure from NVIDIA and ATI, ultimately undermined 3DFX and led to bankruptcy and acquisition.
- What does the video reveal about testing a prototype like this on modern hardware?
- The host wires the card into a rig, notes power and cooling modifications, runs classic games like Half-Life and Tribes 2, and captures framerates to illustrate both the nostalgia and the hardware limitations of era graphics acceleration.